David de Gea has beaten Gianluigi Buffon to the title of the best goalkeeper in the world, according to the man who knows both stoppers best, Matteo Darmian

The Spain international has long established himself as one of the world's best goalkeeper since making the move to Manchester United and became the first player in history to win the club's player of the year award for three consecutive seasons last year.

The 26-year-old has kept more than 100 clean sheets for United but individual recognition has been slightly harder to come by in Europe, given stiff competition from both Buffon and Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer.

But Darmian, who has spent three seasons playing with de Gea and even longer with Buffon, internationally, feels the United stopper is in a league of his own.

"I know David very well and I think, at this moment, he is the best goalkeeper in the world," he told manutd.com .